Page 103 of Sweet Distraction

“Well, at least they got the headline right. Could be worse. They could’ve said I’m an escort or something who’s been harboring your secret love child.”

He snorts. “That’s probably coming next.”

“Awesome.” Sarcasm drips from the word. “Good thing I breached my boss’s unyielding NDA and gave my parents the heads-up.”

“I heard he’s a real asshole.”

“Will I be punished?” I ask playfully, which causes desire to flare in his eyes.

“Later,” he growls.

“Promise?”

I have no idea why I’m unfazed by the article and the chaos that’s about to unfold with us going on this tour. Maybe it’s because of the man beside me and the little girl he’s pulling from the car and her booster seat.

Happiness gives you a healthy dose of tolerance.

Rocket presses a kiss to Poppy’s temple as she tucks her bunny farther under her arm. “I apologize. Again.”

“We’ve talked about it. We knew it was coming. I’m surprised it hasn’t happened sooner,” I say.

“I know, but I’m not sure how they got into my neighborhood. That place is usually sealed pretty tight. I’ll have our PR team put out a press release to set the record straight. That Poppy is my daughter. That you are my nanny. It’ll cause the field day we know it will, but hopefully because she’s a minor, they’ll be more respectful of the situation. We can hope, at least.” He snorts. “I’m sure there will be a lot of supposition, someone will offer a shit ton of money for the sordid story that doesn’t exist, but for now, they’ll assume what they want.”

The words are easy for him, smooth and practiced like it’s just another Tuesday.

And for him? It probably is.

But me? I glance around the tarmac at the luxury jet gleaming in the late-morning sun and wonder if there are more photographers hidden somewhere, waiting to snap the next shot.

Not long ago, I was meeting Poppy for the first time, worried about how she’d adapt to the trauma of losing her mom and the enormous changes in her own little world. Not to mention ordinary things like nap schedule, what would keep her stimulated the most, and her likes and dislikes. Now? I’m on the other side of the gossip site, photographed as if I’m someone important and part of Rocket’s rich and famous world.

This is so far from normal I don’t even have a name for it. It’s like I’m on a different planet and yet somehow, I’m here.

Rocket glances my way and must sense the spiral happening behind my eyes. He bumps his arm against mine. “Hey. Ignore the photo. It’s not a big deal. It’ll blow over in a few days. Whatever it takes, right?”

I smile through the unsettled feeling. “Whatever it takes.”

“No doubt some starlet somewhere will do something stupid, and this will blow away sooner rather than later. I promise.”

“As we go on tour in the public eye.” I roll my eyes and chuckle.

“Point taken. So this is it,” Rocket says as we stop in front of a gray jet. It looks sleek and ridiculously expensive. I stand in front of its stairs and don’t care that I stare up at it in awe.

Rocket gestures toward the plane with his chin. “Well, no time like the present to lose your private jet virginity.”

And if I wasn’t freaking out before, I sure as hell am now.

Because stepping into a freaking Learjet when I’ve never even flown first class before is a whole new level of “how is this my life?”

We carefully climb the stairs. My first impression when I peek inside the door is that it’s sleek and bright and smells like leather and expensive aftershave.

And of course, sitting in that lush leather at the far end of the cabin is the rest of BENT: Hawkin Play. Vince Jennings. And Jase “Gizmo” Gizmodo.

I falter those first few steps inside the jet when I see them there. Sure, I met them at the house, but seeing them again in their private jet about to blast off on tour adds a whole different element to my current situation. One that seems so bizarrely removed from the life I had two months ago.

Poppy has no idea she’s in the presence of rock royalty and is currently too busy dragging her rolling unicorn backpack behind her to care.

“Willow!” Hawkin calls out when he looks up and sees me. He rises from his seat and steps forward to offer a kiss to my cheek in greeting. Then, as I’m in the midst of doing the same with all the rest of the guys, they’re giving high fives to Poppy.